Should we vote on Europe?

[TimberWolf]

Not on joining the Euro, but being in the EU itself?

BBC News - EU referendum: Hague likens call to 'piece of graffiti'

And would it make any difference. After all, a yes vote is binding and a no vote means doing another vote.

[BrilloPad]

A few Tory MPs who want some publicity. They should stick to rent boys.

[BlasterBates]

...and if we're not in the Eu we end up like Switzerland signing up to everything anyway but not as part of the EU. Switzerland is even part of Schengen, you don't show your passport anymore at the border, they just check the occasional car for drugs. Switzerland is a part of the EU in everything but name, it's even pegged the Swiss Franc to the Euro, costing them billions a year keeping their currency in line, it would be far cheaper for Switzerland to be in the Euro.

[Mich the Tester]

If Britain were to leave the EU and then try to negotiate a free trade deal similar to the Swiss deal, what, exactly, does a British government bring to the negotiating table? Bear in mind that it might not even be a British government negotiating on your behalf, as there's a fair chance Scotland and Wales would demand independence and then seek to rejoin the EU, leaving England to negotiate a deal for itself.

[VectraMan]

If Britain were to leave the EU and then try to negotiate a free trade deal similar to the Swiss deal, what, exactly, does a British government bring to the negotiating table? .

Indeed. It can only make us much weaker being fully out of the EU, and by not being in the Euro we're already effectively a tier-2 EU country.

The problem with a referrendum is prejudice against Johnny Foreigner runs so deep and is so easy for the Mail and Express to stir up, that there's a very real danger of the wrong result. This is why there hasn't been a referrendum all these years; the politicians on all sides know that the electorate are too stupid to be allowed to vote on something this important.

[Mich the Tester]

Indeed. It can only make us much weaker being fully out of the EU, and by not being in the Euro we're already effectively a tier-2 EU country.

The problem with a referrendum is prejudice against Johnny Foreigner runs so deep and is so easy for the Mail and Express to stir up, that there's a very real danger of the wrong result. This is why there hasn't been a referrendum all these years; the politicians on all sides know that the electorate are too stupid to be allowed to vote on something this important.

Yep. It seems to me that whether Britain is in or outside the EU, any product or service that British companies want to seel in Europe will still have to meet European standards and regulations. You might even find yourselves at the mercy of trade tariffs. Isn't it better to be inside, taking part in the decisions and influencing those rules that have a direct effect on British business?

[anothercodemonkey]

If Britain were to leave the EU and then try to negotiate a free trade deal similar to the Swiss deal, what, exactly, does a British government bring to the negotiating table? Bear in mind that it might not even be a British government negotiating on your behalf, as there's a fair chance Scotland and Wales would demand independence and then seek to rejoin the EU, leaving England to negotiate a deal for itself.

Britain is the second largest net contributor to the EU's finances. Also the massive German trade surplus is at least in part down to our large trade deficit. If the EU tried to play hard ball on trade we could always point out that we buy a lot more from them than they do from us and if they want to try and cut us out then they will only be cutting of their own nose to spite their face. Also we have a permanent seat on the UN security council which gives us a lot of diplomatic clout (even though we slavishly follow the US line).

It is true that the Norwegians and the Swiss have to abide by many of the EU's rules but at least being out of the EU we would get to negotiate on a case by case basis which ones those would be.

[anothercodemonkey]

Also being based in a non-EU country doesn't seem to have been a massive problem for the likes of Samsung, Oracle, Toyota, Google and a host of other companies.

[BlasterBates]

Also being based in a non-EU country doesn't seem to have been a massive problem for the likes of Samsung, Oracle, Toyota, Google and a host of other companies.

No that's because they produce locally in Europe.

Most Japanese car manufacturers are located in the UK because we are in the EU. The UK is a net exporter of cars (we export more cars than we import).

[Mich the Tester]

OK then, off you go then. We'll see how it all works out.